RSS Feeds: I Need Two Ladders to Change the Light Bulbs and Repaint My House
Changing light bulbs at your house shouldn't be a major operation, right? Well, it is at my house. The distance from floor to ceiling inside the house is about 260 centimeters or about eight and a half feet. The distance from the eaves of the house (all four sides) to the ground is about 540 centimeter or nearly 18 feet. It's obvious I need two different ladders (one step ladder and one extension ladder) or a combination ladder of some kind.
Repainting the house, inside or outside, will be a challenge for anyone trying to do it the way it was done when my house was built. The construction crew used makeshift ladders and scaffolds made of cheap lumber. Every time I watched them working, I winced and expected a major accident. I didn't see any safety precautions being followed. I wonder if a Philippines version of OSHA exists. I guess it doesn't matter now. The house is quickly approaching three years of age.
Ladders
I'm not going to stand back and watch anyone stand on makeshift ladders or scaffolds ever again. It's too dangerous and I'm not hiring a contractor to take care of my home maintenance. That's what my relatives are for (two are experienced painters).
A year before I sold my house in the US, I bought a ladder like this:
It was a Gorilla Ladder I bought at Home Depot for more than USD $200 while it was on sale. I think it was the longest ladder available. I used it as an extension ladder outside while repairing roof tiles and cleaning bird refuse from the roof. I used it as a step ladder in the house to repaint the vaulted ceilings. I couldn't bring it with me when I moved to the Philippines, so it ended up being a gift to my best friend.
I've searched high and low for a ladder like that here and I can't find one. The best I can do is get separate ladders, so I guess that's what I'll have to do.
Light Bulbs
All of the light bulbs inside the house are low energy light bulbs. There's all classified as CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) despite all the odd shapes. Only two have burned out since the house was built and I haven't replaced them yet — they're both in places where other nearby lights will suffice until I do. I could probably stand on a chair and stretch (I'm only 5 feet 10 inches tall) to replace them, but I don't feel like breaking my neck in the process. Both floors are ceramic tile covering concrete flooring. I don't know anyone taller than me and I won't let anyone stand on something unstable, so the process has to wait.
The outside lights bulbs, on the other hand, are all incandescent light bulbs that burned out long ago. I haven't replaced them either because you just can't do it without a tall ladder. They will all be replaced with CFLs when I finally get to them.
Repainting the House
The paint on the house hasn't lasted as long as I hoped. The contractor used cheap waterproof paint on the exterior and it looked good for about a year and a half. The rainy seasons, along with the typhoons, have helped to remove some of that cheap paint. The interior paint is bubbling off due to the humidity and heat during the hot seasons. I'll need paint scrapers, some form of putty (for the settlement cracks), and sanding supplies before any of the walls can be repainted.
I can't even think of working on the painting part of all of this until the Philippine rainy season is over. The paint wouldn't even get a chance to dry.
My Home, My Work
Since I work at home and my master bedroom doubles as my office, I have to deal with burnt out bulbs and ugly looking walls every single day. Oh well…
At least I own my home — no mortgage or rental payments. If all I ever have to worry about is home maintenance, I really don't have much to worry about at all.
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I really enjoy your blog. I am an expat in Angeles City since Sept. 2007. I think I saw a ladder like the one in picture at Wilcon Builders Supply on Mac Arthur Hwy in Dau next door to Mac Donalds. Also there is a new Home Depot at the entrance to NLEX in San Fernando. Havent been in it yet but it is huge.
A Home Depot in San Fernando? Are you sure you're not thinking of the SM mall or the Ace Hardware store within it? It's been a while since I've been to San Fernando (like 2007). :-)
nice post again about "
I Need Two Ladders to Change the Light Bulbs and Repaint My House", I enjoy your blog, keep it the great post !
You bet, there is nothing like an own home – burnt bulbs, shabby walls are still bearable.
Hi RT
Paying someone else to do it is one of the advantages of living in the Philippines. When my house needs repainting, hopefully not as soon as yours, I will hire someone. I hate doing home repairs. If there is a Home Depot in San Fernando there has to be one coming soon to Manila.
Dan Mihaliak´s last blog: Moving To Philippines: Are the Numbers Up?
Yea, I was in the PI for 6 months (and will be back soon) – and if something breaks, you can easily pay someone to fix it. People don't charge an arm and a leg like in the U.S. That's just not how it is…
The Home Depot in on the oppositr side of NLEX from SM. It is as you approach the entrance to the ramp to Manila if coming from Olongopo. It in new this year. Just open mabey 3 months.
The home depot is the best store in the world. You can get every thing there.
I agree with Dan Mihaliak. You can easily get someone else do the dirty work for you. But then again if you are someone who appreciates DIY then I guess it's important to stock up on tools.
Yeah of course you need ladders to change light bulbs !
Not true. All of the bulbs in the house I previously owned could be reached without a ladder.
Thanks for the post. Repainting the house is a real challenge for anyone. This is so. All these ladders and scaffolds oh they make me angry. I hate all these stuff. As for me I have never changed bulbs, at first this is dangerous, secondly there are must be a man in the house who can do it. I would better sit without any light.
That's exactly what my wife would say!
Great post and it sounds like that's a busy task.
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